Research Paper on Marine Plastic Waste

Introduction

Plastics are suited for multiple applications which include building and construction, packaging, agriculture, electronics, vehicles, sports, and household equipment. They are the synthetic organic polymer whose processing is from petroleum properties. Comparing plastics to other materials, they have been found to be cheap, flexible, reliable, and lightweight hence their full usage across. From the collected and preserved data, more than 300 million tons of the plastic materials are created each year. Surprising, major designs of these materials are such that they are used as single items including for shopping, straws, and cups. As a result, their usage expires once their initial purpose for accessing one has been accomplished. This makes it possible for them to be exposed to what has seen over 8 million tons of plastic materials entering the oceans yearly (Jambeck, Jenna et al., 769). Currently, floating plastic debris has been identified as the marine litter most abundant items. It is not any specific continent that is faced with this problem but all the continents' shorelines. The most identified areas one is likely to get plastic materials in abundance are the popular tourist's areas and where people are highly populated. The continued entrance of plastic into the ocean has elicited heated discussions on the issue.

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The discussion has taken two dimensions with the different position on plastic. The plastic producers and the manufacturers lead one of the sides while the other side led by the NGOs dealing with the environment and the scientists. On the other hand, the concern about the plastic ocean waste has to take the attention of the United Nations. It prompted the convening of the United Nations Environment Assembly that sat in Nairobi, Kenya where over 200 nations attended and passed a resolution aimed at eliminating plastic ocean waste (Albeck-Ripka, para5). Even though the treaty was not binding, it paved the way for various countries to move towards banning the use of plastic.

On the other hand, the debate has continued on the plastic ocean waste with some admitting that it is the primary agent of ocean pollution while others disagree with the sentiments. Various facts can be extracted from the entire discussion with those who believe that plastic waste is not the main problem that the oceans face and tend to oppose any attempt to ban the production and the use of plastic (Gould, para6). They believe that plastic is the best material used for wrapping our technology, houses, and food. It is as well a remarkable substance whose contribution has way long entered into healthcare and supported many people living in poverty come out. They say that is only the disposable consumer goods that end up polluting the ocean. Additionally, they say that the contribution of plastic waste to ocean pollution is not such significant. The most significant source is the land-based. Elsewhere, the proponents to ban of plastic note that plastic has become the primary source behind all the problems the ocean encounters. The specific focus is on the plastic straws whose production has built a culture of throw away (Vince, Joanna, and Britta, 125). For instance, on a single day, almost 500 million plastic straws are used by Americans on a daily basis, and most of them are littered into the ocean and other waterways.

The parties have also held divergent opinions on what needs to be done to help curb the problem. Majority of other countries have already considered the passing of laws that prohibit the manufacturing and the production of the plastic. The laws have even become effective in most of these countries especially the 200 countries that attended the environmental meeting in Nairobi Kenya. The governments and other bodies have agreed to the law and supported it in trying to protect the ocean that is used by many people and animals. Further, The plastic producers and the manufacturers have a different opinion from what the environmental NGOs and scientists think and act. The plastic producers suggest for more recycling as the environmental NGOs and the scientists suggest that producers of the plastic need to make smart designs. The manufacturers believe that if the plastic can be recycled, then that is a better solution to the problem ocean plastic waste (Hartman, Astrid, and Ella, 7). However, this is challenging that the plastic products produced most of them cannot be recycled, or they deliberately escape recycling. These plastics include foamed polythene that most serve for packaging food. It is hard to recycle them and are dangerous to the health risk. Scientists and some sections non-governmental organization that the best thing is to make better designs of the various plastic products produced. This way, once a good design has been established, the worry on the environment and health.

Scientists and non-governmental organizations call upon waste diversion which is behind the idea that buying the plastic product should only be those that can compose or undergo the recycling. The products are more convenient that even after their disposal, they will readily undergo decomposition and used somewhere else. The strategy as put forth by the scientists is essential to cities such as Portland and San Francisco to help them handle wastes that are not highly hazardous (McKie, para5). By adopting this particular strategy, the towns would raise the rates of waste diversion. Thus, according to the scientists and other, plastic producers need to engage in producing the products that can easily be converted to something else rather than being dumped and find their ways into the ocean. On the other hand, the plastic producers feel that the waste can be converted to energy instead which then will involve other processes such as burning trash and producing Co2. From these processes, it is clear that the idea is not a good one since the involved processes will further make the environment more hazardous for human living and other living things. It is also likely to cause other problems such as global warming.

Conclusion

Therefore, from the many environmentally related sources and organization, it is evident that the topic of ocean plastic waste has been a topic of discussion for long. The debate has given room to examine some of the advantages and the disadvantages that the plastics have in the human life. Further, the various related body has already made their position on the topic especially on the use of plastic materials. Also, different groups have held different views on what can be done to reduce the ocean plastic waste. The side of the plastic producers and the manufactures view ways such as adopting the recycling of the materials while the scientists and the environmentalists challenge manufacturers to come up with unique designs. However, this is a debate that everyone needs to contribute and actively play the relevant role.

Works Cited

Albeck-Ripka, Livia The 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' Is Ballooning, 87,000 Tons of Plastic and Counting. New York Times, March 22, 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/climate/great-pacific-garbage-patch.html

Gould, Hannah. 10 things we learned about tackling plastic ocean waste. The Guardian, Tue 23 Jun 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/23/10-things-we-learned-about-tackling-plastic-ocean-waste

Hartman, Astrid, and Ella Loven. "Plastic as marine debris and its potential for economic value: A practical and analytical estimation of the marine debris characteristics and a comparative evaluation of possible treatment procedures." (2014).

Jambeck, Jenna R., et al. "Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean." Science 347.6223 (2015): 768-771.

McKie, Robin. Plastic now pollutes every corner of Earth. The Guardian, Sun 24 Jan 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/24/plastic-new-epoch-human-damage

Vince, Joanna, and Britta Denise Hardesty. "Plastic pollution challenges in marine and coastal environments: from local to global governance." Restoration Ecology 25.1 (2017): 123-128.